Albany Man Indicted for Distribution, Receipt and Possession of Child Pornography

ALBANY, NEW YORK - Taykwun Smoaks, age 32, of Albany, was arraigned on Friday, April 12, on charges that he distributed, received, and possessed child pornography. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo Field Office, and New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Steven G. James made the announcement.

The indictment filed against Smoaks alleges that, from February to March 2023, he distributed and received images and videos of child pornography over the internet, and that he possessed images of child pornography on his computer and external hard drive on April 5, 2023. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

If convicted of the charges, Smaoks faces at least 5 years and up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant's sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Smoaks may also be ordered to pay restitution to the victims of his offenses and forfeit the devices used in the offenses. Smoaks would also have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

Smoaks was arraigned on Friday in Albany, before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel, and detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for tomorrow, April 16. A trial will be scheduled before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci.

HSI and NYSP are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander P. Wentworth-Ping is prosecuting the case.

Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney's offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and is designed to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.